BWFJ MAY DAY PROGRAM

Thank you, again, for taking part and inviting others to the Monday May1st MAY DAY "INTERNATIONAL WORKERS DAY "webinar, “Black Workers @ the Center of the Storm. This will be an engaging MAY DAY PROGRAM for all workers.

Black Workers For Justice is an organization of Black workers organizing to build the Black Workers Movement as a Central Force in the struggle for Black Liberation, & Workers Power for a better world without any oppression or exploitation. 

Because the majority of Black people in the US are workers, working class issues have a pivotal role in the Black Liberation Movement; and because of the racist history and ongoing oppression of Black people, we have a special role in the Labor Movement. We honor and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King’s Support for Labor, so this program combines that honoring of Dr. King and centering the crucial role of Black Labor on this May Day.

Again, we thank and honor each of you for the work you are doing on the ground for the liberation of our people and workers’ power and for taking the time to be on our program. 

For Workers Power, Black Liberation & Self-Determination

FOLWCC Community Solidarity Garden Update: 

Planting Seeds of Peace with Justice

FOLWCC Community Solidarity Gardening Group hosted a Gardening by the Bucket 101 and a Mycology 101 class on April 25th and 27th. Abasi Brown led an amazing and enlightening discussion about Mushrooms. Participants were presented with mushroom biology - what they are, how to forage for them in the wild, which ones are edible, which ones are poisonous, how to grow them, and which ones can be used medicinally. Wow, who knew!! In our Gardening by the Bucket class, new gardeners learned 10 steps to growing vegetables in containers and left with their bucket with veggies they’d planted. Participants talked about the benefits of family farms over big industrial farming operations. 

The history of Black land ownership and farms and their decline was shared. We discussed how structural institutional racism and discrimination had been key culprits in Black farms and farmland loss. Some of the tactics used have been eminent domain land takings, denial of equal access to agricultural grants, subsidies, and loans as well as predatory land takeovers by third parties. Lastly, we talked about the persistence of food deserts in low-wage and communities of color. Participants received information about the role of food cooperatives in helping to provide quality food to communities and were encouraged to become a member of the Southeast Raleigh Fertile Ground Food Co-op.

The FOLWCC plans to offer another Gardening by the Bucket class at the beginning of the fall growing season in August. Call 919-876-7187 and leave a message for Nathanette if you are interested in registering for that upcoming class.

The FRUIT OF LABOR WORLD CULTURAL CENTER is a Partner with the UNC-Chapel Hill NC DIGITAL Heritage Center

We need your help organizing our many historical documents from 1968 to the present. Please email or call FOLWCC's Archival Manager Elder Angaza Laughinghouse at (919) 231-2660!

FRIDAY, May 19, 2023: Celebrate Brother Malcolm X's 98th Birthday at Fruit of Labor World Cultural Center's screening; discussion and dinner on Friday, May 19, 2023 from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM, Celebrate Brother Malcolm X's 98th Birthday at Ft. Lauderdale's Old Dillard Museum- LIVE and ONLINE. The link will be provided by May 10.

--Brought to you by  our friends at the South Florida Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life & History--

Midwest Academy (A progressive training resource center) and Fruit of Labor / BWFJ members connect to share "organizing base building in workplace and community" with their visit to the FRUIT OF LABOR WORLD CULTURAL CENTER!

Pictured from left to right: Kristina Tendilla, Amanda Varela, Denechia Powell-Ingabire and Aimée-Josiane Powell-Ingabire BWFJ leaders Nathanette Mayo and Elder Angaza Sababu Laughinghouse (bottom front)

May 2023 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Sunday, May 7; 7:00 PM; Southern Workers Assembly Meeting. Contact Elder Angaza Sababu Laughinghouse at fruitoflaborwcc@netscape.com.

Wednesday, May 10; 3:00 PM; National NFG Legacy Award to Elder Angaza Sababu Laughinghouse. Contact FOLWCC.

Saturday, May 13; 10:00-11:00 AM; Worker Leadership Workshop: Organizing a Base in your Workplace and Community 101 Series at FOLWCC; call (919) 876-7187 for more information and to register.

Saturday, May 13; 1:00-5:00 PM; Celebrate Mothers and Bring her out to our Monthly Cornbread, Fish & Collard Greens Social Justice Fish Fry Fundraiser. Sit down under our big umbrellas and enjoy live music, games, and community good news & tell us what makes the women in your life so special! Sistas receive a special surprise gift from FOLWCC. Plates $12, and sandwiches $7; please RSVP to (919) 876-7187 and order early. Plates go quickly! Our last event sold out!

Saturday, May 20; 10:00 AM; Biltmore Hills Neighborhood Association Meeting at Biltmore Hills Community Center. Contact Gary Smith.

Saturday, May 20; 12:00-1:00 PM; Financial Health Workshop Series – 3rd class; RSVP Elder Angaza Sababu Laughinghouse at fruitoflaborwcc@netscape.com.

Sunday, May 21; 4:00-5:00 PM; Black Workers for Justice Women’s Commission Working Group hosts part 3 of a book review and discussion of What’s Love Got to Do With It - a book by Donna Franklin about the relationships between Black men and women. The discussion will take place virtually via Zoom and in person at the FOLWCC. Contact Willie at (252) 640-0944 for more information and to register.

Tuesday, May 23; 7:00 PM; NC Chapter of the National Conference of Black Lawyers TBA Contact Greg Moss.

Friday, May 26; 5:00 PM; Inter-reliougFoundation for Community Organizations/IFCO End the Embargo of Cuban People Tour at The Solidarity Center in Durham. Contact Ben Carroll.

Saturday, May 27; 6:00-10:00 PM; Kick-off of the World Cultural Cinema Outdoor Movies Under the Stars Series presents “Sorry to Bother You” – an outrageously surreal look at capitalism corporate greed, and fractured workplace dynamics. In an alternate present-day version of Oakland, CA, struggling telemarketer, Cassius Green discovers a magical key to professional success, which propels him into a macabre universe. Food is served at 6:30 PM – wings, hotdogs, and chips are $8; please RSVP to (919) 876-7187 and order early. Plates go quickly! The movie starts at 7:45 PM.

Reserve the Fruit of Labor World Cultural Center for your Special Event!



The Fruit of Labor World Cultural Center is the perfect beautiful venue for your special event. Contact us today for information about our very reasonable rates and availability. Call (919) 876-7187, 919-231-2660 or

email fruitoflaborwcc@netscape.com.

AVAILABLE NOW!

Music and songs that inspire, engage, and liberate our spirit!

Enjoy Fruit of Labor Singing Ensemble’s Album: State of Emergency

The album is available on

Amazon, Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, iHeart Radio 

and many more streaming services and retailers. 

Harry Belafonte, Singer, Actor

and Tireless Activist, Dies Aged 96

Presente!

Portside.org

Harry Belafonte, the singer, actor and civil rights activist who broke down racial barriers, has died aged 96.

As well as performing global hits such as Day-O (The Banana Boat Song), winning a Tony award for acting and appearing in numerous feature films, Belafonte spent his life fighting for a variety of causes. He bankrolled numerous 1960s initiatives to bring civil rights to Black Americans; campaigned against poverty, apartheid and Aids in Africa; and supported leftwing political figures such as Cuba’s Fidel Castro and Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez.

The cause of death was congestive heart failure, his spokesman told the New York Times. Figures including the rapper Ice Cube and Mia Farrow paid tribute to Belafonte. The US news anchor Christiane Amanpour tweeted that he “inspired generations around the whole world in the struggle for non-violent resistance justice and change. We need his example now more than ever.”

Bernice King, daughter of Dr Martin Luther King, shared a picture of Belafonte at her father’s funeral and said that he “showed up for my family in very compassionate ways. In fact, he paid for the babysitter for me and my siblings.” The Beninese-French musician Angélique Kidjo called Belafonte “the brightest star in every sense of that word. Your passion, love, knowledge and respect for Africa was unlimited.” Read more here.

Music legend Gil Scott Heron Tribute